Sole insert for ski boots

ABSTRACT

A hollow insert adapted to be incorporated into the sole of a ski boot or the like includes means for retaining a combustible material adjacent the toe of the boot which, when ignited, warms the interior of the boot and means for retaining a magnetic element whereby the wearer of the boot can be easily located by magnet detection means.

Unated States Patent 11 1 1111 3,795,992

Wittman Mar. 12, 1974 [54] SOLE INSERT FOR Sm BQOTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor! 393mm Wiltmm, 946 Steel 351,517 4/1922 Germany 36/2.6

06, Denver, Colo. 54720 22 Filed; 12 1973 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-.Burton, Crandell & [21] Appl. No.. 331,346 Polumbus [52] US. Cl. 36/16 57 ABSTRACT A hollow insert adapted to be incorporated into the "5 b 3 sole ofa ski boot or the like includes means for retaining a combustible material adjacent the toe of the [56] References Cited boot which, when ignited, warms the interior of the boot and means for retaining a magnetic element UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 whereby the wearer of the boot can be easily located. 3,585,736 Poljchena magnet detection means 2,680,918 6/1954 Behner 3,663,796 5/l972 Hines 36/2.6 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures III SOLE INSERT FOR SKI BOOTS The present invention generally relates to footwear and more particularly relates to an insert for ski boots and the like including self-contained means for heating the interior of the boot and magnetic means to facilitate location of an individual wearing the boot.

It is a well appreciated fact that a skiers feet can become uncomfortably cold when skiing in unusually cold conditions; and, in extreme circumstances, the feet can become frost bitten causing permanent damage thereto sometimes resulting in the need for amputation. Additionally, an infrequent but, nevertheless, extremely dangerous hazard of skiing is the chance of getting trapped in an avalanche or becoming lost in a heavy snow storm whereby it is very difficult to belocated and rescued.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved ski boot or the like having means for maintaining warmth within the boot so as to avoid discomfort and/or damage to the feet and a detectable element to facilitate location of a lost skier by conventionally available detection means.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device adapted to be incorporated into the sole of a ski boot which includes both self-contained heating means and a magnetic element.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which is easily moldable into the sole of ski boots and the like and which has a compartment accessible from exteriorly of the boot for retaining combustible material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device adapted to be formed into the sole of a ski boot or the like having a forward compartment adapted to retain a self-contained combustible material and a rearward compartment adapted to retain a magnetic element and wherein each compartment opens through an exterior surface of the sole for easy access.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an inflexible device adapted to be formed into the sole of a ski boot or the like including self-contained means for heating the boot and which is variably adjustable in length prior to being incorporated into the sole so as to be adapted for use on ski boots of any size.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a preferred embodiment by incorporating into a cavity in the sole of a ski boot, a lining or tubular member having forward and rearward telescoping elements adapted to receive and retain a combustible heating material and a magnetic or field disturbing member which is detectable from a distant location. The tubular member is preferably incorporated into the sole of the boot when the sole is formed so that the forward element opens through a front surface of the sole and the rearward element opens through a rear surface of the sole with removable caps being provided at the opening end of each element so as to be accessible from exteriorly of the boot.

It will be appreciated that by utilizing a selfcontained combustible material in one of the elements, that the interior of the boot can be warmed even when used in remote locations. Additionally, the presence of a detectable field disturbing element such as a magnet in the sole will enable search parties or other individuals to easily locate the user of the boot with conventional detection means, when the user becomes lost in a snow storm or trapped in an avalanche. It is also to be appreciated that with the device mounted completely within the sole of the boot, there is no discomfort to the user of the boot, it is not readily noticable so as to be distracting from an aesthetic standpoint and serves to reinforce the sole.

In a second embodiment, the insert comprises a tubular element which is retained in the sole of the boot so as to open only through the front end of the sole. A magnetic element is inserted into the tubular element so as to occupy the closed end thereof and an insulating plug is utilized to separate the magnetic element from a forward portion of the tubular element wherein a combustible material is retained by a removable cap for the tubular element.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a ski boot utilizing the sole insert of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the ski boot of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section similar to that of FIG. 3 showing a second embodiment of the sole insert of the present invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a ski boot 10 having an upper portion 12 and a sole portion 14, underlying and affixed to the upper portion 12, is shown with one embodiment 16 of the insert of the present invention incorporated into the sole. The sole 14 of a conventional ski boot, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, is normally substantially rectangular in shape and is normally at least one-half inch in thickness. The length and sometimes the width of the sole will vary with the size of the boot The insert 16 is seen best in FIG. 3 to include a longitudinally extendable tubular member or liner 18 including rigid front and rear telescoping elements 20 and 22 respectively which are slidable axially of each other. The larger of the two tubular elements 20 and 22, which in the disclosed form is shown as the front element 20, is of uniform circular transverse crosssection with its forward end 24 internally threaded to releasably receive a threaded cap 26 having a screwdriver or coil slot 28 in an enlarged head 29 to facilitate manipulation thereof. Approximately midway along the length of the front element 20 is a solid internal partition wall 30 dividing the element 20 into a forward compartment 32, which can be closed by the cap 26, and an open rearward compartment 34 adapted to slidably receive the forward end 36 of the rear element 22.

The rear element 22 as mentioned previously is of smaller diameter than the forward element 20 and is also of circular transverse cross-section. The rearward end 38 of the rear element flares outwardly into an enlargeddiameter internally threaded cylindrical segment 40 adapted to releasably retain a cap 42 identical to the cap 26 in the front element 20.

Inasmuch as most present day ski boots have molded plastic or rubber soles, it is desirable that the tubular member 18 be molded into the sole 14 of the boot 10 when the sole is formed. The member 18 will thereby create a substantially hollow cylindrical cavity 44 through the sole from a front surface 46 to a rear surface 48 of-the sole and serve as a lining for the cavity.

The tubular member 18 is preferably adjusted in length by axial sliding movement of the front and rear elements prior to molding the sole so that the caps 26 and 42 at opposite ends of the member will be substantially flush with the front and rear surfaces 46 and 48 respectively of the sole. Accordingly, the tubular member 18 should be adjusted in length so as to be slightly less than the overall length of the sole whereby the caps can be threaded into the respective ends of the tubular member until the enlarged heads of the caps engage the terminal ends of the tubular member.

A horizontal diametrically extending anchor pin 50 may be passed through the element 22 near its longitu- ,dinal center so as to protrude outwardly away from both sides of the element and to divide the rear element ir'i'to forward and rearward compartments 52 and 54 respectively. The anchor pin 50 is held in place by soldering or other similar means and serves to prevent the rear element 22 from moving either rotatably or axially once it is embedded in the sole 14 of the boot. A similar diametrically extending horizontal pin 56 may be passed through the front element 20 just rearwardly of the partition wall 30 and issimilarly held in place to prevent the front element from moving either rotatably or axially within the sole.

The compartment 32 formed between the cap 26 at the forward end 24 of the front element 20 and the partition wall 30 is suitably designed to retain charcoal or another self-contained combustible material which will burn for an extended period of time without a fresh supply of oxygen. Commercially available cylindrical charcoal pellets 58 have been found ideally suited for this purpose and to thisend, the forward compartment 32 has been designed to be long enough to retain two of the charcoal pellets 58 which are each approximately one and three quarters inches long. It will be appreciated of course that if a great deal of heat is not needed to keep the feet warm, only one charcoal pellet need be placed in the forward compartment.

The rearward compartment formed between the rear cap 42 and the anchor pin 50 in the rear element 22 retains a cylindrical magnetic bar 60 which may be biased in a rearward axial direction by a compression spring 62 which is seated at one end on the anchor pin 50 and at the other end against the forward end of the mag netic bar 60. The cap 42 at the rearward end of the rear element holds the bar 60 in place. The function of the magnetic bar is to facilitate location of a skier by use of any conventional magnet detection means such as, for example, a compass. This feature of the insert becomes particularly important during searches for skiers who have been caught in an avalanche and possibly buried in the snow so that they cannot be visually located.

Preferrably, both the front and rear elements 20 and 22 respectively are composed of a metallic material so that they can be threaded at their ends to releasably retain the caps and so that they will rigidify and reinforce the sole. Other materials such as certain epoxy resins or plastic compositions could also be used. It can be appreciated that the sole insert 16 is very simply designed so as to be economical to manufacture and yet serves a three-fold function in maintaining warmth within the boot to prevent discomfort and/or damage to the feet of the skier, in providing a magnetic means for facilitating location of the skier, and in reinforcing the sole of the boot.

In a second embodiment 64 of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 wherein like parts have been given like reference numerals with a prime suffix, a rigid tubular member or liner 66 is embedded in the sole l4, preferably during molding of the sole, so as to be retained within a hollow cylindrical cavity 68 within the sole which is closed at. its rearward end 70 and opens through a front surface 46 of the sole. The rearward end 72 of the tubular member 66 is closed and abuts against the rearward end 70 of the cavity 68 while the forward end 74 of the tubular member is open and has internal threads adapted to releasably receive a cap 76. The cap is provided with a screwdriver or coin slot 78 in the forward face of its enlarged head so that it is eas ily removed from or screwed into the threaded forward end 74 of the tubular member. As in the first described embodiment, preferably the forward end 74 of the tubular member 66 is inset slightly from the forward surface 46' of the sole so that the enlarged head of the cap 76 can be tightened against the forward end of the tubular member to be substantially flush with the forward surface 46' of the sole. A horizontal anchor pin 78 is passed diametrically through the tubular member 66 adjacent the rearward end 72 of the member so as to extend radially outwardly from opposite sides thereof. The anchor pin 78 thereby prevents rotative or axial movement of the tubular member within the sole. A cylindrical magnetic bar 60 which has an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the tubular member 66 so as to be slidable therein is disposed at the rearward end of the tubular member in abutting engagement with the anchor pin 78. An insulating plug 80 also of cylindrical configuration is disposed within the tubular member 66 so as to retain the magnetic bar 60' against the anchor pin and thereby hold the bar in place within the tubular member. The insulating plug 80 preferably has a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the tubular member 66 such that it snugly fits within the tubular member and will not easily slide therethrough. In order to facilitate removal and insertion of the insulating plug, so that the magnet can be removed or inserted into the tubular member, a small hook 82 is anchored in the forward end of the insulating plug which can be grasped with any convenient means to pull the insulating plug out of the tubular member/The lengths of the magnetic bar 60 and the insulating plug 80 are such that when they are positioned within the tubular member as shown in FIG. 4, a forward compartment 84 is defined in the forward end of the tubular member which is of a length adapted to retain two of the charcoal pellets 58 described hereinbefore in relation to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3. Again, however, depending upon the heat desired, one or two pellets can be placed in the forward compartment 84. The cap 76 at the forward end of the tubular member of course retains the pellets within the compartment and the insulating plug which is approximately half the length of the tubular member serves to insulate the magnet from the combustible pellets so as to prevent the heat from the pellets from damaging the magnet. The tubular member 66 would preferably be made of a metallic material to reinforce the sole but could, as in the first embodiment, be made of an epoxy resin or plastic composition.

It is to be appreciated that two embodiments of a sole insert for ski boots have been described, both of which serve several useful purposes. The two most readily apparent purposes are, of course, heating the interior of the boot and facilitating location of a skier through use of the magnet retained within the insert. Another very beneficial use, which was mentioned briefly previously, is the sole reinforcing capability of the insert. In other words, when the insert is made of a rigid or inflexible material, it serves to prevent the sole from curling and thereby alleviates the need to use shoe trees or other similar devices typically used to prevent the soles from curling. It should also be appreciated that while the insert has been described as preferrably being molded into the sole, it would also be possible to incorporate the insert into a pre-molded or pre-formed sole by drilling a suitable cavity in the sole and anchoring the tubular member in the sole in any convenient manner. Of course, if the insert were incorporated into the sole after molding or forming the sole, the anchor pins, described herein, would not be used but rather some other suitable substitute which would prevent relative movement between the insert and the sole.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be .made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a boot having an upper portion and a sole underlying and affixed to the upper portion the improvement comprising:

a cavity in the sole and at least one opening in an external surface of the sole communicating with the cavity through the surface of the sole,

a rigid lining in said cavity retaining the portion of the sole through which it extends in a relatively inflexible condition,

self-contained heat generating means releasably inserted into the cavity and retained therein by said lining and operable when activated to generate heat to warm the interior of the boot, and

a removable cap normally closing the opening to seal said heat generating means in the cavity, said cap being removable from the opening in the sole to permit removal and replacement of said heat generating means in the cavity.

2. In the boot of claim 1, wherein said heat generating means comprises a combustible material.

3. In a boot having an upper portion and a sole underlying and affixed to the upper portion, the improvement comprising:

a cavity. in the sole and two openings in an external surface of the sole communicating with the cavity through the surface of the sole,

a lining in the cavity with a partition wall therein dividin g the cavity into first and second internal compartments,

self-contained heat generating means releasably inserted into the first compartment of the cavity and retained therein by said lining and operable when activated to generate heat to warm the interior of the boot, and

a field-disturbing element in the second internal com partment of the cavity and a pair of removable caps normally closing the openings in the sole to seal the heat generating means and the field-disturbing element in the cavity, said pair of caps each being removable from the opening in the sole to permit removal and replacement of the heat generating means and the field-disturbing element.

4. In the boot of claim 3 wherein said field disturbing element is a magnet.

5. In the boot of claim 4, said sole having forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces, said first mentioned and second openings in the sole being in the forwardly and rearwardly facing exterior surfaces of the sole respectively, and wherein said lining extends longitudinally of the sole of the boot.

6. In the boot of claim 5, wherein said lining includes first and second telescopically related elements, each element including one of said first and said second compartments.

7. In the boot of claim 6, wherein each of said first and second elements further includes at least one anchor pin extending outwardly therefrom and embedded in the sole of the boot to prevent relative movement between the said first and second elements and the sole of the boot.

8. In the boot of claim 2, wherein the rearwardmost end of said lining is closed and further including a magnetic element within said lining at the closed end thereof, an insulating plug in said lining forwardly of said magnetic element, and wherein said combustible material is forwardly of said insulating plug.

9. In a boot having an upper portion and a sole underlying and affixed to the upper portion, the sole including surfaces facing forwardly and rearwardly of the boot, the improvement comprising:

a substantially cylindrical cavity extending from front to back of the sole, an opening in each of said forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces communicating with said cavity,

a first cylindrical element disposed in said cavity so as to open through said forwardly facing surface of the sole and having an outer diameter substantially the same as said cavity, a removable cap covering the forward open end of the first cylindrical element, a partition wall in said first cylindrical element defining a compartment forwardly of the partition wall, and a removable combustible material inserted in said compartment which when ignited will supply heat through the sole and into the upper portion of the boot,

a second cylindrical element disposed in said cavity rearwardly of and axially aligned with said first mentioned cylindrical element and opening through said rearwardly facing surface of the sole, a second removable cap covering the rearward opening in the second cylindrical element, said second cylindrical element having an outer diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said cavity and being telescopically related to said first mentioned cylindrical element, a partition in said second cylindrical element defining a second compartment rearwardly of the partition in the second cylindrical element, a magnetic element in said second compartment, and spring means in said second compartment biasing the magnetic element axially of the second cylindrical element to positively retain the magnetic element between the partition in the second cylindrical element and the second removable cap, and

an anchor pin protruding outwardly from the first mentioned cylindrical element and an anchor pin protruding outwardly from the second cylindrical element, said anchor pins being embedded in the sole adjacent said cavity to prevent relative movement between said first mentioned and second elements and the sole of the boot. 

1. In a boot having an upper portion and a sole underlying and affixed to the upper portion the improvement comprising: a cavity in the sole and at least one opening in an external surface of the sole communicating with the cavity through the surface of the sole, a rigid lining in said cavity retaining the portion of the sole through which it extends in a relatively inflexible condition, self-contained heat generating means releasably inserted into the cavity and retained therein by said lining and operable when activated to generate heat to warm the interior of the boot, and a removable cap normally closing the opening to seal said heat generating means in the cavity, said cap being removable from the opening in the sole to permit removal and replacement of said heat generating means in the cavity.
 2. In the boot of claim 1, wherein said heat generating means comprises a combustible material.
 3. In a boot having an upper portion and a sole underlying and affixed to the upper portion, the improvement comprising: a cavity in the sole and two openings in an external surface of the sole communicating with the cavity through the surface of the sole, a lining in the cavity with a partition wall therein dividing the cavity into first and second internal compartments, self-contained heat generating means releasably inserted into the first compartment of the cavity and retained therein by said lining and operable when activated to generate heat to warm the interior of the boot, and a field-disturbing element in the second internal compartment of the cavity and a pair of removable caps normally closing the openings in the sole to seal the heat generating means and the field-disturbing element in the cavity, said pair of caps each being removable from the opening in the sole to permit removal and replacement of the heat generating means and the field-disturbing element.
 4. In the boot of claim 3 wherein said field disturbing element is a magnet.
 5. In the boot of claim 4, said sole having forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces, said first mentioned and second openings in the sole being in the forwardly and rearwardly facing exterior surfaces of the sole respectively, and wherein said lining extends longitudinally of the sole of the boot.
 6. In the boot of claim 5, wherein said lining includes first and second telescopically related elements, each element including one of said first and said second compartments.
 7. In the boot of claim 6, wherein each of said first and second elements further includes at least one anchor pin extending outwardly therefrom and embedded in the sole of the boot to prevent relative movement between the said first and second elements and the sole of the boot.
 8. In the boot of claim 2, wherein the rearwardmost end of said lining is closed and further including a magnetic element within said lining at the closed end thereof, an insulating plug in said lining forwardly of said magnetic element, and wherein said combustible material is forwardly of said insulating plug.
 9. In a boot having an upper portion and a sole underlying and affixed to the upper portion, the sole including surfaces facing forwardly and rearwardly of the boot, the improvement comprising: a substantially cylindrical cavity extending from front to back of the sole, an opening in each of said forwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces communicating with said cavity, a first cylindrical element disposed in said cavity so as to open through said forwardly facing surface of the sole and having an outer diameter substantially the same as said cavity, a removable cap covering the forward open end of the first cylindrical element, a partition wall in said first cylindrical element defining a compartment forwardly of the partition wall, and a removable combustible material inserted in said compartment which when ignited wilL supply heat through the sole and into the upper portion of the boot, a second cylindrical element disposed in said cavity rearwardly of and axially aligned with said first mentioned cylindrical element and opening through said rearwardly facing surface of the sole, a second removable cap covering the rearward opening in the second cylindrical element, said second cylindrical element having an outer diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said cavity and being telescopically related to said first mentioned cylindrical element, a partition in said second cylindrical element defining a second compartment rearwardly of the partition in the second cylindrical element, a magnetic element in said second compartment, and spring means in said second compartment biasing the magnetic element axially of the second cylindrical element to positively retain the magnetic element between the partition in the second cylindrical element and the second removable cap, and an anchor pin protruding outwardly from the first mentioned cylindrical element and an anchor pin protruding outwardly from the second cylindrical element, said anchor pins being embedded in the sole adjacent said cavity to prevent relative movement between said first mentioned and second elements and the sole of the boot. 